My Daughter Made This Cute Little Piece

This darling little wallhanging was done by Sherry, my daughter, probably about 25 years ago for Bill and Ann, her brother and his wife. It is not quilted - there is no batting - but she machine appliqued it. I had almost forgotten about it when Ann got it out and hung it for the holiday. What a great job Sher did! It's such a cute pattern. I give my girl an A+ on this one. There is such a difference in the fabric available back then and what is out there now, but the fabric Sherry used really works great and the colors are wonderful. It really says "Christmas".

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An Older Wallhanging

This little wallhanging is in Kansas City at Bill and Ann's home. I made it probably 8 to 10 years ago and it's machine appliqued and hand quilted. (Click to enlarge)

Back Home from Kansas

Home again after a really wonderful time with my family - any time we are together it is so good. I was also able to see my sister's (I miss her) sons and their families for lunch on Saturday. It was bittersweet since my youngest nephew and his wife lost their youngest son in an accident at work just a few weeks ago. My heart bleeds for them. Life has so many twists and turns and is so hard at times. A loss like that can never be overcome completely. I pray for strength for them and for his brother to make it through this terrible time - they were a tight family.

Coming home today we were on the airplane and the pilot announced that we had a slow leak in a tire. We all left the airplane and went back into the terminal. They were "going to try and find a tire there at MCI" - well, there was no tire there so one or two had to be flown in. It is kind of funny that they didn't have something as basic as a spare tire! Lots of moaning and groaning and comments, naturally. That was a six hour time spent in the airport and it called for rebooking and standing in line for an hour or more. Finally, they did get some new tires and we were off to Chicago and I finally got home about 9:30. I have become more mellow in my old age and don't let that stuff get me riled up. Really, I don't want to take off in a plane with a bad tire - don't think it would land so well! I am home now, having a glass of wine, and will soon go to bed and get rested up, go get my mail tomorrow (I will have Christmas cards!!) and get ready for a new day. I have lots of pictures and I will post a couple - then eventually get back to quilting. This, however, has been a wonderful week with the ones I love the most. Hope yours was the same!!!

Merry Christmas!

Getting ready to leave for Kansas City to be with my family for Christmas. Molly, my middle granddaughter, was to get there from Oregon last night but flights were cancelled. Hopefully, she will be able to leave tomorrow on standby. The weather is making travel a challenge and frustrating for many people. I pray everyone gets where they want to be for Christmas. We need our Molly with us!

Have a lovely Christmas - and I hope Santa stuffs your stockings with lots of good stuff! Fabric would be nice, wouldn't it? See you next week!

More Christmas Artwork

Bill did this poster the Christmas after Sherry and Barclay added a new brand new member to our family. Isn't it awesome how much a darling little baby adds so much joy to Christmas - and more joy is added with the addition of each new little one. The ornament on Rudolph's reindeer is for Norah.

This is Uncle Bill and Norah - she was about 4 1/2 months old and already lots of fun. Later, Molly Rose joined us, and quite a bit later Hannah Alice arrived, both of them adding their special joys. Ray and I both absolutely loved being grandparents - nothing like it.

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Some "Handmade" Cards

Ah, the 60's! Bill has drawn from the time he was quite little, and he's good at it. Funny characters were a specialty of his - guys with warts on their noses, cigarettes hanging out of their mouth (this was the 60's!) and just all around funny stuff. Good perspective, too. These Christmas cards were done probably when he was in high school - can't remember for sure - and I have kept them all these years. Who can throw things like this away? I can't!

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My Pretty Daughter at Christmas in 1967

Posted a picture of Bill with his snowgirl the other day and some on his 7th birthday.....and I don't want Sherry to think I am ignoring her!! This was taken about the same time as the one of Bill. It was in Topeka. What a pretty daughter I have!! The stocking on the fireplace and it's companion were made when the kids were very tiny. I still have those ugly little things - could never get rid of them.

What I Did on a Snowy Day

This is a fresh picture of what is outside my door this evening. Don't know how much snow we got, but it was a lot and the wind blew and arranged and rearranged it many times. In the upper right is the little tree with the berries. Did I tell you the deer ate lots of the low hanging ones the other night? So I spent much of the afternoon embellishing this little hanging. Takes awhile to sew on beads and sequins, doesn't it. I love the look and should do more of it. This will go to Kansas City with me. That is coming up quickly!!

Here's a closer view. I like this little piece. (Click to enlarge)

I Love this Picture

This goes way back to 1956 just before we moved away from our hometown to go to Ft. Madison, Iowa. Sherry was 5 1/2 and Bill was 3. Mom and I took the little kids to Peoria to Block and Kuhl's department store to see Santa Claus. They were so excited and so cute - this one makes me smile and tugs at my heartstrings. How did 52 years slip by so quickly?

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An Old Wallhanging and a New Christmas Cactus

Made from a pattern I bought long ago and finished two or three years ago. Wasn't happy with the string of lights as I felt they probably needed to be lighter. Do like the snowman, though.

Another Christmas cactus in bloom - different color and much smaller. Must have been a good year for them. Today I hope to get my Christmas cards ready for mailing. As years go by, my card list gets shorter, but I so look forward to the letters and notes in cards from the old friends and relatives I still hear from. (Click to enlarge)

A Fun Free Download of a Folk Art BOM

On the left side of my blog at the very bottom is a note about a free download from http://estheraliu.blogspot.com/// The second BOM has been put up and is another cute one. Don't know if the first one is still available as she was going to take the previous pattern down when the new one goes up. It's called Red Delicious and is done all in red fabrics from your stash - that is if you wish to do it that way! Of course, you can do it any way you please. So far I haven't started it but it looks pretty cute so am downloading the patterns. It is also good for redwork. If you're interested, take a look at Esther's blog. (Click to enlarge)

Added Some Sparkle

Glued a few rhinestones to each of the snowflakes - looks very pretty hanging. (Click to enlarge)

More Christmas Projects from Years Gone By

Here are my little mice I made in Overland Park thirty - give or take a few - years ago. The pattern was in a magazine and there were lots of little pieces to sew, turn and stuff. Should have made her dress more interesting but they still are kinda cute.A profile of the little fellow mouse.

Needlepoint was a passion in my life for at least 11 years - lots of pillows, pictures, etc. Loved doing bargello, so when I saw this little angel in a magazine or book I wanted to do her. I am sure I did it with floss. The wings are needlepoint canvas stitched with a pattern. Her head is a piece of stuffed nylon stocking. She was a tree topper for a long, long time. (Click to enlarge)

Some Christmas Decorating

Spent the afternoon putting up some decorations. Was not going to decorate since I will be gone for Christmas - it will be a family Christmas in Kansas City which I am so looking forward to. However, I decided I need some things out so decorated the fireplace and put up some wall hangings and other odds and ends. Looks festive now. The lights on the fireplace garland are just what is needed.

Made in the mid seventies - Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. I actually made three sets of these little folks - one for Sherry and one for Ann. They had polyester legs that you tied a knot in to make their feet. The little quilt shop in the shopping center near us in Overland Park had some made and I thought they were cute so bought the pattern. Still have it some place.

Over the years, there have been a lot of things accumulate - most of it things we made. Above is a treasure that Ray crossstitched in the mid-90's. It is in a gold frame and hangs by my front door. His stitching was beautiful. (Click to enlarge)

I Love the Old Cards

Here are some fun old Christmas cards from years gone by.

This one has to be from the 50's - looks like art that was popular when my kids were little.

Life was simple then.

Aren't these tags cute? I didn't make these particular ones but have made similar ones with pictures of old cards that I have printed out.

This little card with the carolers could be cropped (unless you are actually giving it to a niece) and attached to a tag. There are so many great things to do and not enough hours in the day!

I have found so many neat things while looking on the web and have put lots of fun things in files on my computer. Retro items are a big favorite of mine--things from the 20's and 30's and 40's are wonderful.

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A Little or a Lot of Snow Won't Keep Quilters Home

Tonight was our guild's Christmas dinner meeting at Pat and Jerry's in Auburn. Great meal and a sinful (and sinfully delicious) dessert consisting of cream puffs filled with ice cream, topped with hot fudge, whipped cream and a cherry! Despite a snowy day, slick roads and lots of snow, about 40 showed up to share the good food and fellowship of a great group of quilters. The grid game round robins are coming along nicely - certainly looks like there will be some fun wallhangings emerging at the February meeting. The picture is of this month's trading cards that four of us exchange each month - with this month's theme being one or some of our favorite things. Top row shows Julie and Debbie's cards - below are Claire and mine. My card shows Claire, Carol, Julie and Debbie in that order. Trading cards with them each month is one of my favorite things. (Click to enlarge)

Many Winters Ago

Back in the late 60's, we lived in Topeka, Kansas. Our kids were teenagers - those were good years. One snowy day, our son, Bill, in junior high at the time, built a snowgirl in the front yard. She was very well endowed! Grinch mother made him knock off the excess snow - but, my gosh, it was soooooo funny. He really gave her a nice hairdo. Notice how the teenagers wore their jeans at that time. Memories are so nice.

The Deer Wallhanging

It's all quilted now and I think it turned out okay. Still think I will sparkle up the snowflakes although they are standing out better than I thought - at least in the picture. (Click to enlarge)

Another Birthday

Saturday, December 6th, is my kid brother's 76th birthday. This picture was taken back in Chillicothe two years ago when we were all back for the high school alumni banquet - Bud and Dot, his wife, were there from Florida for their 55th reunion and I was there for my 60th. I didn't get a card off in the mail but I hope you know that I wish you good health and hope you're feeling good and have lots more birthdays.

Happy Birthday, Brother!

With love from your big sis,
Carol

Tired of Tablerunners?

Two more finished - the first one is almost a duplicate of an earlier one but the one with the ornaments is different. Still have to put the binding on the two short ends but, hey, it's almost finished for sure. There are a couple of projects that I have to get done by Tuesday when we have guild, so I spent part of today working on the trading cards and the round robin. The ATC is figured out, printed and waiting to be put together. The last two months my cards have looked alike but I think this is pretty neat. Can't post it now as I know that at least one of my buddies checks out my blog (I love it when people tell me they have seen something on my blog and I also love comments!) so I will wait to post all of them together. As for the round robin, I have it figured out, also, and some blocks ready to be appliqued - so it will be ready to go, also. (Click to enlarge)

Happy 55th Birthday, Bill!

A long ago party in Ft. Madison, Iowa - it was your 7th birthday. Mark Edlen, Tommy Snowden, Mike McLemore, Myron Morgan (he was the most wild little kid but darling), Denny Hawkins and someone named Jeffery or Jeremy (remembered the names of all but the last two and they were written in the album.) You are the best son parents could ever want and I never would have taken you to the used boy lot!!!

Happy Day, Bill. I love you.

Mom

p.s. It's my 150th post.

Ready to be Quilted

This was in the Nov/Dec issue of Quiltmaker and I thought it was pretty. Made this with fabric I had on hand except for the little snowflakes which are kind of hard to see. Will have to sparkle them up with something. I really have no plan for this but just wanted to make it - isn't that kind of what we quilters do? The hanging would look great over a fireplace. (Click to enlarge)

December - Already!

Here is the "Old Hag" - a doll I made in a 2003 class with Ann, one of our guild members. Ann's dolls are just exquisite - her work is so beautiful and her dolls so whimsical and fun. She does lots of pixielike dollies and she is so talented. The class was lots of fun - but I am not a good doll maker. Look at the hands on my dear little old lady--the poor thing must have a terrible case of arthritis! She is holding a little "pumpkin bear" that I bought in a craft shop in Chillicothe many years ago. Someone made that little thing by hand! Don't you just marvel at what people can do? And her apron is actually the very first thing that I ever crocheted - a little doily - when I was about 17 or 18 years old. Guess that qualifies as an antique for sure since it's over 62 years old! I will set her out in the living room for Christmas when I deck the halls a little bit. Since we will be going to Kansas City for Christmas, I won't be getting too much out. It's getting close!! (Click to enlarge)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is late this year so Christmas is closer than we might think. I hope everyone is having a good day with lots and lots of good food and people you love to share it with. This is a relaxing holiday (except maybe for the cook) with not weeks of preparation to enjoy the day. Below is part of my contribution to our dinner this afternoon - the Crazy Orange Salad. I posted the recipe earlier and it is mighty good.

And this is the recipe for my pumpkin pie. Have been using this one since the mid-70's and it has never failed. Click to enlarge the picture and you can read it well. In the late 90's after we bought our computer, I did a cookbook with lots and lots of recipes from over the years. I gave them to all the girls in my life and several of them are using it on a regular basis. I love to do things like that.

I digress - I want to wish you a lovely day - and to the rest of my family, Bill and Ann, Norah and Chad and Molly and Doug - I love you and wish we were all together but know you will be with someone else you love! And Christmas is coming! xxxxxxxxxx000000000xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Smart Bag

Isn't this pretty? I had an e-mail from Barbara the other day with this picture attached. She was one of the girls on the last road trip and one who also bought the pattern and fabric for the smart bag I told you about in an earlier post. Great job, Barbara - it's beautiful. (Click to enlarge)

Here's an Awesome Blog

Aren't these things neat? I have found such a great website with tons and tons of wonderful graphic designs in the form of wallpaper, cards, etc. What great ideas can come from those things. How cute are these? The blog is called print & pattern and it's awesome if you like lots of pretty designs. Lots of retro patterns, also.

What a great fusible wallhanging could be adapted from something like this.

So pretty! You can't imagine how much there is on that site! Better yet, you can click on

http://www.printpattern.blogspot.com/

and go see for yourself. The archives go back to 2006 so there's lots to see. Enjoy!!

It's Snowing!

Not our first snow - we had a little bit a few days ago - but this is the wet, sticky kind that makes everything look so beautiful. Here is the tree the birds were in a couple of weeks ago. Now leafless but still with all the berries, the snow sits on top of the pretty red fruit. Before the berries came on, the branches were upright - now they weep. The photo looks blue - rather like an evening picture - but I used no flash as I took it through the window and that would have been nothing but a big reflection. Regardless, it's kind of pretty.

Earlier I made a quick trip to Kroger to get the things I need to make my part of our Thanksgiving feast! There will just be Sherry, Barclay, Hannah and I - and Gracie, of course - but I can tell you that is good company!! And we will have a great dinner, some wine, maybe Scrabble or Rummykube. My contribution will be Hannah's favorite Crazy Orange Salad, some cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Here's the recipe for the orange salad - yummy!

Crazy Orange Salad
1 3 oz. pkg. dry orange jello
1 8 oz. tub cottage cheese - well, drained
1 11 oz. can mandarin oranges, drained
1 8 oz. can crushed pineapple, drained
1 -4 1/2 oz. tub Cool Whip (or more if desired)
In a medium mixing bowl combine dry jello and cottage cheese. Stir in oranges and pineapple. Blend with Cool Whip until mixture starts to congeal. Chill until serving time.
Enjoy!!!!

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Two Down, Two to Go

These are finished. Very happy with the way they turned out. I have some blue marker to spritz out where I marked the center of the colored blocks so I knew how far to take the quilting motif.

This one is being appliqued right now. I will embroider a hook on each ornament. Tablerunners go together quickly and are a good way to practice machine quilting. Have laid out the start of another one on the table downstairs. Plenty of fabric left! Oh, well, as we all know - you can never be too thin, too rich or have too much fabric. Need to work on the first two things!

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